https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 04:43:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1141419 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:38:43 +0000 regberadaisy 1141419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: I say knives because they'll be much easier to pack for the move back to the states! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1141398 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:28:35 +0000 skibobrown 1141398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get knives. Good knives are a great purchase b/c they basically last forever as long as you get them sharpened periodically. Also, you can make great food with crappy pots and pans, but you can really hurt yourself accidentally with crappy knives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1141393 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:26:14 +0000 shinymama 1141393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My vote is for knives. DH and I still maintain that our Henckels block set was our best wedding gift because of use and quality.</p> <p>If you decide to buy knives and pans, I would get a couple of Santokus in different sizes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140331 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:44:09 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1140331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Upgrading is such a great idea! We may steal it! I've been jonesing for nice, high quality butcher knife, or maybe an Asian veggie knife. Maybe ... but I'm a little superstitious and I heard it's bad luck to get those as gifts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140329 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:43:48 +0000 shopaholic 1140329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would choose to upgrade maybe 2 knives and 2 pots/pans instead of getting a whole set of either. 8" chef's knife or a Santoku knife would be my first knife picks. And a pot and pan you would use the most often. You'll get more use out of your upgrades that way I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140315 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:39:42 +0000 looch 1140315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Make sure you look for hand forged knives, you really don't want the stamped ones, at least I prefer not to have this kind for my chef's knife (I do have a stamped bread knife).</p> <p>If you can wait and buy them in the US, you can also find really good deals at places like Homegoods and Marshalls/TJMaxx, if you are okay without having a "set." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140298 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:35:08 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1140298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you can get a couple of knives pretty inexpensively. Really you just need a chef's knife and paring knife.</p> <p>so buy those and get one great piece of cookware. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140292 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:33:52 +0000 mrsjyw 1140292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote knives!!! Use more and easier to transport next year for your move back to the states! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140286 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:31:26 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1140286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you need a whole knife set. Well, I should say, *I* don't need one. I really only have a chef knife, paring knife, bread knife, and santoku knife. A nice pair of kitchen scissors is also helpful, but I haven't bought one yet. </p> <p>I also bought all my pans separately and they are a hodgepodge of quality brands in different materials. Sets always come with pots that are rarely used and all the same material, so I only have pans I use constantly. </p> <p>So, to summarize, since I tend to ramble - I would get two or three high quality knives separately and maybe a great le creuset dutch oven. You get the best of both worlds. You can "give" him the knives, and he can "give" you the pan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140267 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:26:19 +0000 LuLu Mom 1140267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get more use out of nice pans! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140232 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:16:54 +0000 Ms.Badger 1140232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I'd want a nice chef's knife and upgraded pots and pans that you use most. I use our chef's knife for pretty much everything but bread. I mostly use 10 in omlet pan non-stick and stainless 2 quart sauce and 3 qt saute most. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140211 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:09:39 +0000 dagret 1140211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: i wouldn't bother with a full knife set - i'd get a nice chef's knife and a good paring knife.<br /> ETA: and maybe add in a good pot or pan that you're missing? I have a lodge enamel cast iron that is a lot cheaper than Le Creuset and gets some great reviews. (I love mine) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140209 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:09:06 +0000 loveisstrange 1140209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you ladies recommend getting an 8" Chef's knife or a 10"? I think the one we have now is 8" and it fits nicely in my hand. I don't know if I really need a larger one? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140206 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:08:35 +0000 Happygal 1140206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LoveisStrange: I would buy the steak knives a la carte as well. The ones I've used in block sets are usually crummy. </p> <p>Upgrading stuff is fun! @mrs. Bird: has a great suggestion with Cook's Illustrated--they usually have great recommendations. In fact, you can find lists on Amazon's Listamania where people have compiled all of Cook's Illustrated's recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140193 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:05:58 +0000 Running Elley 1140193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely knives!! We have nice knives and it makes a huge difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140188 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:04:24 +0000 loveisstrange 1140188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: @Happygal: @mrs. bird: Thanks. I will look into buying just a few really good knives. Our hand-me-downs came with a block, so we can just reuse! </p> <p>We need steak knives too, though. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140180 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:02:17 +0000 mrs. bird 1140180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>good knives can be crazy $$$$, but cooks illustrated highly recommends victorinox knives and they are really reasonable. i love mine! do you have a block you can use? this set is &lt;$80 and you could have 4 good knives and $$ left over to get the pans you like. i had a couple nonstick calphalon fry pans, they didn't last long for me &amp; now we have a cuisinart green gourmet non stick pan because i get nervous about nonstick. the rest of our pots and pans are cuisinart &amp; we are very pleased with them! </p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-4-Piece-Knife-Fibrox-Handles/dp/B004IEBTZ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1381333972&#038;sr=1-2&#038;keywords=victorinox+knives" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-4-Piece-Knife-Fibrox-Handles/dp/B004IEBTZ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1381333972&#038;sr=1-2&#038;keywords=victorinox+knives</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140167 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:58:57 +0000 yin 1140167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: I have a simple block set with just three knives and kitchen shears. It's all I need, and I cook almost everyday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140166 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:58:33 +0000 swurlygurl 1140166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's what we're doing too - upgrading what we have to better quality. We've started with pans because I have no clue what's going on with knives. I need to work on learning the proper knives for the job.<br /> I have a cast iron pan that I love, and an All-Clad 5-ply SS saute pan that is my favorite kitchen item. Next on my list is an enamel coated dutch oven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140155 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:55:49 +0000 pui 1140155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pick the knives! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140151 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:55:06 +0000 Happygal 1140151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you need a whole set of knives. It's probably more useful and a better deal to buy just what you need. </p> <p>I have a Global chef's knife that I use all the time along with a paring knife. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140150 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:54:47 +0000 loveisstrange 1140150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: JA Henckels is the brand I was looking at. The BX here has a 13 piece forged block set for a pretty decent price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140135 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:51:24 +0000 yin 1140135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a decent set of pots and pans from Costco (Kirkland Signature line), but I decided to invest in quality knives. It will really make your life that much easier to have a knife that can cut well. Every time I go to my in-law's house and attempt to cook, I get mad at their knives. I would recommend Henckels or Wusthof. I find them at T.J. Maxx and Marshall's for a good price. The last set I bought was from Amazon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140131 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:50:13 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1140131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Knives! I wish we had good knives. My BIL does and prepping food is so much easier and quicker with his. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140129 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:49:42 +0000 MrsBrewer 1140129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say knife set!! We have the stainless steel Calphalon set of pots and pans, and I always try and use my cheap non stick pans first! lol they are soo much easier to clean.</p> <p>A good knife set though, helps sooooo much!!!! I use my knives everyday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140123 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:48:31 +0000 looch 1140123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put my pots and pans in the dishwasher, mama ain't got time for washing those by hand, so I would say get good knives. I like to have a good bread knife (serrated), an 8 inch chef or santoku and several paring knives. </p> <p>We don't really have use for a boning knife and for carving, I prefer to use my chef's knife. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140110 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:44:17 +0000 ShootingStar 1140110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I get way more use out of our nice Calphalon pans than I do out of the knives. I use the pans pretty much every day to cook, but the knives I tend to use a lot less often. Maybe because I'm not good about cooking veggies, so there's not often a lot of things to chop. We also avoid using our nice knives unless we need to, because they're hand wash only. So we use our cheap ikea steak knives all the time because they can go in the dishwasher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/upgrade-knives-or-cookware#post-1140075 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:34:45 +0000 loveisstrange 1140075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I have decided to just upgrade something in our house instead of buying each other Christmas gifts this year. We originally thought bedding, but we dont want to buy online. (We live in the UK, but have a US queen bed.)</p> <p>So, Im thinking either a good set of knives or a good set of pots and pans. Our pots are servicable but not great and I have 2 nice Calphalon frying pans, but not the lids. Our knives are a hot mess, for real. They're all hand-me-downs. </p> <p>Im thinking getting the full set of Calphalon Contemporary non-stick pots to match my pans or a nice knife block set.</p> <p>Which would you get first? </p>